Killer Whale Education and Conservation

Killer whales at SeaWorld help killer whales in the wild

In 2016, SeaWorld announced that we were ending our killer whale breeding program and that the orcas in our care are the last generation at our park. Our goal is to inspire and educate guests to take action by seeing these magnificent animals up-close to better understand why protecting wildlife and our environment is so critical today.

This is the last generation of orcas in our care

But, they are still here and will be cared for at SeaWorld for decades to come.

Our goal is to help our guests, and the world, explore the wonders around them, and then inspire them to take action to protect wild animals and wild places. SeaWorld’s killer whales are vital to that mission, and while they will be the last generation of killer whales at SeaWorld, they will still be around for decades to come, inspiring millions of guests and people across the globe to take action with us today.

Meet the Whales

The opportunity to see orcas up-close has inspired millions of people, especially children, to care more about marine animals, the oceans and the environment. Below, meet the 10 killer whales in SeaWorld San Diego's care.

Research and Conservation

SeaWorld Supports Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program

SeaWorld has committed $1.5 million over three years as part of a partnership with The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through the Killer Whale Research and Conservation Program (KWRCP). Support of the KWRCP is part of SeaWorld’s $10 million pledge to fund research and conservation for killer whales in the wild – the largest private commitment of its kind. The KWRCP will focus on three strategies: increasing prey availability; improving habitat quality; and strengthening management through crucial research.

Science Supporting Conservation

Scientific research performed at SeaWorld is carried out by our own research staff, and by scientists from national and internationally-renowned universities and research organizations such as UCLA, the San Diego Zoo and the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. We publish the results of our research in peer-reviewed journals, making it available to scientists, those who manage animal populations, and other interested people around the world. SeaWorld scientists have authored or co-authored hundreds of published papers.